That looks pretty far forward indeed, like the old 90 degree frame sets from the early nineties. I wonder if he is still within the rules.
If I recall collect there is a rule in tri that the tip of the saddle may not be further then 50 mm in front of the bottom bracket.


Jeroen

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Owner at TRIPRO, The Netherlands

PICS

It is a problem with the Trinity that the seatpost doesn't allow you to move the saddle as far forward as other bikes.
And the bars are terrible. It just looks like he is having to bodge solutions to match what could be done on a bike that suited him better.
With the ISM saddle he can go massively forward and still be within the 50mm rule that Jeroen mentioned - though I have broken that rule with some small riders and have never seen it checked.

True, I have never heard that this rule was checked or applied. Heck, I’m not even sure if most referees or marshalls at the check zone even know this rule :-)
And even more true on the Trinity, wheneven someone comes through the door for a bike fit you know its going to be one of those days ;-)

Jeroen

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Owner at TRIPRO, The Netherlands

His position seems rather extreme. Is the Trinity really that far off other bikes? Those extenders are suuuuper long.

I wonder what Giant will do if this is the fit he wants. Extensions should be fine with something like a custom Ganna cockpit. But the seatpost needed would be quite something.

that saddle setback is one of the UCI rules that makes no sense, fortunately not applicable to tri.
Most of triathletes set their saddle significantly forward.

From that Blu picture attached, seems tip of the saddle is even ahead of the bottom bracket, even with ISM saddle......

That's interestesting that he feels more powerful in that position. For me, if I get more forward than a certain point, I lose my ability to engage my glutes for applying power.

I muffin hope he is the one that wins st g,

Our online questionnaire collects info on what type of bike(s) the rider is bringing to the fit so I can bash my head against the wall beforehand to get in the mood for dealing with blacklisted models.

His position would be extreme on any bike, yes. But the Trinity makes it much harder to test the extremes

Given that Giant have a world tour team again this year I imagine they'll release the new bike they parked when they knew they wouldn't have any top tier riders to showcase it.

We're referring to 5.11 (c) found here https://www.teamusa.org/...ve-rules#article%203

Which does apply to tri. But as Jeroen mentioned - few know it. Entirely possible that Blus team don't know it.

so there is a new trinity in the works?

that is kinda extreme from what I can see of that screenshot!
gotta be a position that fits a new trinity that they can't show yet, surely that position wouldn't work on the road on the current giant trinity?

I don't see that fit working on any current tri or tt bike unless he gets a custom gooseneck seatpost and custom bars with extreme forward angled risers. With that much weight over the front wheel, you'd think it was twitchy, too. I'm sure whatever they're doing will make him faster though 😅

some of us know it because we helped write those rules ;-)

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

Does this apply in Kona ?

I actually have heard from a reliable source there is coming a new Giant disc brake equiped tri/tt bike coming this season. Might be good possible that Blu’s team is doing some testing what position is possible without showing the actual bike. But do knowing what fit range is possible so they have to replicate that on to his old bike until Giant is ready to release it.

Jeroen

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Owner at TRIPRO, The Netherlands

I thought you guys were referring to the UCI rule that mention front of saddle should be at least 5cms behind the BB.

The one you pointed is different.
I think Blu looks to still be compliant with that one. Wouldn't think his front of saddle is more than 5cms in front of the BB.


"A vertical line touching the front most point of the saddle may be no more than 5 centimeters in front of and no more than 15 centimeters behind a vertical line passing through the center of the chain wheel axle. The cyclist must not have the capability of adjusting the saddle beyond these limits during competition."

He’s kind of a unique morphology, but I can’t imagine they’d do something like this without serious consideration on all the fronts that anyone in the know would consider. I think it looks really good, in a unique way, and it’s silly to imagine they don’t know what a “good” CdA would be and that they made big gains. What’ll be interesting is to see if others try that kind of extreme change. I changed my fit up similarly to what they’ve done here after my first Ironman in October, and it’s made a massive difference in comfort, while being lower up front and flatter through the back. Mine still looks pretty standard for a modern fit, but I do also have the seat about as far forward as it’ll go on this same bike.

Looks like my man is using a seat shifter from back in the day. Luv’d me my seat shifter! But more seriously, this position will help him slipstream better behind his lead out. So in a pack of riders doing 50k/ hour all Blu needs is a Starky sized bloke to sit behind and he’ll cruise all 112 miles basically at his VT1 — setting him up for a sub 2:30 marathon. IMO.

Yes, Section 5.03 (iii)
https://cdn3.sportngin.com/...768474477.1642274883

I would rather hope that you would know all the rules pertaining to tri positions

My eye is certainly not as good as yours, I don't see the tip being > +5cm. Do you ?

Lol

That is so awesome Dan

There you go